Learning About Earth Day
Developing Internet Research Skills
Stage of Literacy Development:
Stage 2: Consolidation / FluencyStage 3: Literacy for Growth
Ages:
7-11
Grade Range:
3rd 4th 5thFood Groups:
Primary: Writing Processes & Strategies
Activity Description
Preparation:
-
Prepare the Researching Earth Day chart
- Write the heading “Researching Earth Day” at the top of a piece of chart paper
-
Below the heading list the following questions
- What countries celebrate Earth Day?
- What percentage of the earth is land? What percentage of the earth is water?
- What is the earth’s population?
- Whose idea was Earth Day?
- When did Earth Day become a holiday?
- In your opinion, why is Earth Day important?
Implementation:
Session 1:
-
Introduce the project
- You may want to have students complete this project towards the end of an Earth Day unit
-
Tell students that they will use the Internet to research Earth Day
- Ideally, take time to show students how to use the internet, how to find reliable sources, and how to record their findings
-
Show students the Earth Day chart and explain that you have created some questions to guide their research
- If desired, you can help students to generate these questions themselves instead of providing them
- Allow students to add additional questions of interest
- Have the students research the questions using the Internet
- Students should record their answers in complete sentences
Session 2:
- Have students present their findings during a whole class discussion
Adaptations For
English Language Learners/ESL:
- Reduce the number of questions the student is required to research
- Use a buddy system when using the Internet
- Re-read each question and work one-on-one with the student at the computer
LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:
- Explicitly show the student how to use the selected website to research a topic
- Provide the student with many opportunities to practice using the selected website
- Allow the student to type his/her findings on the computer or use a speech-to-text software program
Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:
- Have the students learn about how different cultures and countries celebrate Earth Day or a similar holiday
Differentiated Instruction:
- List 8-10 questions and have students select 4-5 to research
Related References
Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G. S. (2001). Guiding Readers and Writers Grades 3-6: Teaching Comprehension, Genre and Content Literacy. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Activity Objective
The goal of Learning About Earth Day: Developing Internet Research Skills is to provide students with an opportunity to learn about the beginning stage of the writing process and practice their oral communication skills.
What You Need
Prep Time:
15 minutes - Prepare Researching Earth Day chart
Task Time:
2, 40 minute sessions
Session 1:
- Teacher introduces project
- Teacher and students discuss Researching Earth Day chart
- Students research Earth Day using the Internet
Session 2:
- Students present their findings
Materials Required:
Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers
Students:
- Lined paper
- Pencil (1 per student)
What You Do
Teacher Role:
Direct instruction:
- while teacher introduces project and discusses chart
Consultant:
- while students research Earth Day
Facilitator:
- while students present their findings
Student Grouping:
Whole class:
- during introduction of project, discussion of chart and student presentations
Individual:
- when students research Earth Day
Assessment Ideas:
- Use a checklist to track how well each student answered each question
- Provide oral feedback to students while they research Earth Day using the Internet
Quick Tips
Activity Extensions:
- Have the students use their research findings to write a report about Earth Day
- Create Earth Day posters or brochures that include 2-3 facts and display the posters around the school
- Invite a special guest to your school to talk about the environment
- Discuss, list and write about ways to help the environment
- Take a "Nature Walk" around your school or community and have students collect and classify natural artifacts from the ground
Additional Comments:
- Provide many computer opportunities for students so that they become familiar with using the Internet for conducting research. Direct them to 2 or 3 age-appropriate research sites and model how to find information from these websites.
- You may want to provide an individual copy of the questions to each student to refer to when they are conducting their research at a computer, particularly if you are having students complete this project at home.
Other Adaptations/Modifications:
- Allow students to use a text-to-speech software program that reads information from websites to students
